This study investigates the increased commercialization of African indigenous vegetables (AIV)—fo... more This study investigates the increased commercialization of African indigenous vegetables (AIV)—former subsistence crops such as African nightshade, cowpea leaves and amaranth species grown mainly by women—from a feminist economics perspective. The study aims to answer the following research question: How does AIV commercialization affect the gendered division of labor, women’s participation in agricultural labor, their decision-making power, and their access to resources? We analyze commercialization’s effects on gender relations in labor and decision-making power and also highlight women’s agency. Based on a mixed method design and analyzing household-level panel data and qualitative focus groups from Kenya, we observe an economic empowerment of women that we relate to women’s individual and collective strategies as well as their retention of control over AIV selling and profits. Yet, while we see economic empowerment of women through commercialization—how they broaden their scope ...
African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 2020
There has been increased emphasis on the consumption and utilization of affordable, and locally a... more There has been increased emphasis on the consumption and utilization of affordable, and locally available indigenous foods in formulating food supplements due to the evidence-based nutritional and pharmacological value. Several studies have been devoted to how best these foods can be prepared, singly or as composites to come up with safe and nutritious foods that are acceptable to the target population. One of such composites that include oyster mushrooms and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, millet, pumpkin seeds, and milk powder has been successfully developed at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya. The flour with the acronym MMUSTMUG is rich in thiamin, fiber, low in fat, sodium free, good source of iron, and high in vitamin A. Acceptability of this flour is, however, key to it being embraced by the target population. The objective of the current study was to assess the acceptability of both the flour and its porridge in a cross-sectional study among 50 mother...
African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 2020
There has been increased emphasis on the consumption and utilization of affordable, and locally a... more There has been increased emphasis on the consumption and utilization of affordable, and locally available indigenous foods in formulating food supplements due to the evidence-based nutritional and pharmacological value. Several studies have been devoted to how best these foods can be prepared, singly or as composites to come up with safe and nutritious foods that are acceptable to the target population. One of such composites that include oyster mushrooms and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, millet, pumpkin seeds, and milk powder has been successfully developed at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya. The flour with the acronym MMUSTMUG is rich in thiamin, fiber, low in fat, sodium free, good source of iron, and high in vitamin A. Acceptability of this flour is, however, key to it being embraced by the target population. The objective of the current study was to assess the acceptability of both the flour and its porridge in a cross-sectional study among 50 mother...
Research and strategies on food fortification can focus on AIVs to provide necessary micronutrien... more Research and strategies on food fortification can focus on AIVs to provide necessary micronutrients and phytochemicals for nutrition and health which would benefit communities’ diet and wellbeing more generally. Strategies on specific varieties, that are less time-consuming, need to be implemented. AIVs have the potential to improve meal security and food sovereignty in Kenya because they are already part of the meal cultures of the Kenyan people. However, this has to be supported by policies and strategies that enhance utilization of AIVs. In Kenya, various factors influence consumption of AIVs. This brief adopts a gender perspective to explore two impeding factors: knowledge and perception. Improving knowledge and perception of AIVs may be a viable strategy to promote AIV consumption. There are no policies that have been formulated at county government nor national government level to promote production and consumption of domestic value chains including AIVs.
Several agri-food studies have been done to promote African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) with foo... more Several agri-food studies have been done to promote African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) with food and nutrition security being a major promoting factor. However, practices of preparation, cooking and sharing a meal have been less studied thus creating a missing link in agri-food studies. This paper seeks to reveal the socio-cultural practices of consumption of AIVs in Kenyan households. The paper introduces the innovative concept of meal security. Qualitative studies were conducted in Nairobi, Nakuru and Kakamega regions in Kenya between 2015 and 2017. Results revealed that consumption of AIVs in Kenyan households is highly gendered. Women are responsible for most of the tasks in relation to AIV preparation and cooking. However, women also use their agency to circumvent some of the challenges they face including choice of family meals and a time burden. The paper recommends strategies and innovations that can reduce these challenges including reduction in time for cooking, provisio...
A number of factors contribute towards the consumption of African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) in... more A number of factors contribute towards the consumption of African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) in Kakamega County. The significance of African Indigenous Vegetable (AIVs) in Kakamega County plays a major role in their consumption. However, some factors have been found to be constraints rather than enhancing consumption. This has increasingly led to the changing food consumption habits of AIVs in the rural households of Kakamega County. Whether these changes contribute to the nutritional benefits of consumers is an issue that needs further investigation. A study was done in order to document the preparation and cooking of spider plant (Cleome gynandra) and African nightshade (Solanum scabrum). The purpose was to determine the meal culture and consumption habits of the two AIVs in Kakamega County. Findings of the study indicate that spider plant and nightshade undergo various processes before consumption. Plucking, washing, cutting and cooking are the main steps. They are prepared eac...
This study investigates the increased commercialization of African indigenous vegetables (AIV)—fo... more This study investigates the increased commercialization of African indigenous vegetables (AIV)—former subsistence crops such as African nightshade, cowpea leaves and amaranth species grown mainly by women—from a feminist economics perspective. The study aims to answer the following research question: How does AIV commercialization affect the gendered division of labor, women’s participation in agricultural labor, their decision-making power, and their access to resources? We analyze commercialization’s effects on gender relations in labor and decision-making power and also highlight women’s agency. Based on a mixed method design and analyzing household-level panel data and qualitative focus groups from Kenya, we observe an economic empowerment of women that we relate to women’s individual and collective strategies as well as their retention of control over AIV selling and profits. Yet, while we see economic empowerment of women through commercialization—how they broaden their scope ...
African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 2020
There has been increased emphasis on the consumption and utilization of affordable, and locally a... more There has been increased emphasis on the consumption and utilization of affordable, and locally available indigenous foods in formulating food supplements due to the evidence-based nutritional and pharmacological value. Several studies have been devoted to how best these foods can be prepared, singly or as composites to come up with safe and nutritious foods that are acceptable to the target population. One of such composites that include oyster mushrooms and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, millet, pumpkin seeds, and milk powder has been successfully developed at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya. The flour with the acronym MMUSTMUG is rich in thiamin, fiber, low in fat, sodium free, good source of iron, and high in vitamin A. Acceptability of this flour is, however, key to it being embraced by the target population. The objective of the current study was to assess the acceptability of both the flour and its porridge in a cross-sectional study among 50 mother...
African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 2020
There has been increased emphasis on the consumption and utilization of affordable, and locally a... more There has been increased emphasis on the consumption and utilization of affordable, and locally available indigenous foods in formulating food supplements due to the evidence-based nutritional and pharmacological value. Several studies have been devoted to how best these foods can be prepared, singly or as composites to come up with safe and nutritious foods that are acceptable to the target population. One of such composites that include oyster mushrooms and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, millet, pumpkin seeds, and milk powder has been successfully developed at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya. The flour with the acronym MMUSTMUG is rich in thiamin, fiber, low in fat, sodium free, good source of iron, and high in vitamin A. Acceptability of this flour is, however, key to it being embraced by the target population. The objective of the current study was to assess the acceptability of both the flour and its porridge in a cross-sectional study among 50 mother...
Research and strategies on food fortification can focus on AIVs to provide necessary micronutrien... more Research and strategies on food fortification can focus on AIVs to provide necessary micronutrients and phytochemicals for nutrition and health which would benefit communities’ diet and wellbeing more generally. Strategies on specific varieties, that are less time-consuming, need to be implemented. AIVs have the potential to improve meal security and food sovereignty in Kenya because they are already part of the meal cultures of the Kenyan people. However, this has to be supported by policies and strategies that enhance utilization of AIVs. In Kenya, various factors influence consumption of AIVs. This brief adopts a gender perspective to explore two impeding factors: knowledge and perception. Improving knowledge and perception of AIVs may be a viable strategy to promote AIV consumption. There are no policies that have been formulated at county government nor national government level to promote production and consumption of domestic value chains including AIVs.
Several agri-food studies have been done to promote African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) with foo... more Several agri-food studies have been done to promote African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) with food and nutrition security being a major promoting factor. However, practices of preparation, cooking and sharing a meal have been less studied thus creating a missing link in agri-food studies. This paper seeks to reveal the socio-cultural practices of consumption of AIVs in Kenyan households. The paper introduces the innovative concept of meal security. Qualitative studies were conducted in Nairobi, Nakuru and Kakamega regions in Kenya between 2015 and 2017. Results revealed that consumption of AIVs in Kenyan households is highly gendered. Women are responsible for most of the tasks in relation to AIV preparation and cooking. However, women also use their agency to circumvent some of the challenges they face including choice of family meals and a time burden. The paper recommends strategies and innovations that can reduce these challenges including reduction in time for cooking, provisio...
A number of factors contribute towards the consumption of African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) in... more A number of factors contribute towards the consumption of African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) in Kakamega County. The significance of African Indigenous Vegetable (AIVs) in Kakamega County plays a major role in their consumption. However, some factors have been found to be constraints rather than enhancing consumption. This has increasingly led to the changing food consumption habits of AIVs in the rural households of Kakamega County. Whether these changes contribute to the nutritional benefits of consumers is an issue that needs further investigation. A study was done in order to document the preparation and cooking of spider plant (Cleome gynandra) and African nightshade (Solanum scabrum). The purpose was to determine the meal culture and consumption habits of the two AIVs in Kakamega County. Findings of the study indicate that spider plant and nightshade undergo various processes before consumption. Plucking, washing, cutting and cooking are the main steps. They are prepared eac...
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Papers by Anne Aswani